The primary reason that weight is important for arthritis patients is a purely physical reason. Carrying less body weight is less stressful on the weight-bearing joints (hips, knees, ankle, back). Extra pounds can increase pain. According to research, as you walk, your hips, knees, and ankles bear three to five times your total body weight. For every pound you are overweight, it is akin to adding three to 5 pounds of extra weight to each knee while you walk. If you lose 10 pounds, that is equivalent to thirty to fifty pounds of stress subtracted from the joint.

Think of what it is like to lift a 10-pound bag of potatoes. That gives you a better idea of how much stress you can relieve from your joints by controlling your weight. Bottom line: Maintaining your ideal body weight is healthy for your joints.

With a loss of 1 to 2 pounds per week, a 10-percent reduction in body weight would take about six months. Gradual weight loss usually keeps extra pounds off rather than quick, fad diets.

Obesity and Osteoarthritis

Being overweight is considered a risk factor for osteoarthritis. Johns Hopkins population-based studies have linked being overweight or obese to developing knee osteoarthritis. One study indicated that women who were obese had four times the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis compared to non-obese women. Obese men had five times the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis.

Weight Management for Better Overall Health

Weight management should be viewed as an integral part of arthritis management. Not only should weight be managed for reasons associated with joint protection, weight loss can help prevent or control other comorbid conditions such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and other health complications.

It takes commitment and a good attitude to make progress toward losing weight. If you aren't ready to commit to a weight loss regimen, then focus on weight maintenance so that you don't gain weight.

Weight Loss Is Not Easy

It's no easy task to lose weight. Since arthritis patients are saddled with the extra burden of chronic pain, it is even more difficult. Keeping your eye on the goal is a big part of strengthening your commitment. First, realize how you will benefit by losing weight. Internalize the reasons for your goal and never lose sight of it. Perhaps writing in a journal will help you keep focused. Finding a support system of one person or many people who are trying to lose weight can help you keep your commitment to your weight loss plan.

According to researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, modest weight loss can result in significant improvements in function, stiffness, knee pain, and overall quality of life. In a small study involving forty-eight adults, a weight loss of fifteen pounds triggered a 50-percent improvement in knee pain, stiffness, and function. The fifteen-pound weight loss also correlated with a 40-percent improvement in the ability to do physical tasks, a 20-percent boost in energy, and a 15-percent improvement in the patient's social life.